System for spreading particulate materials

• US 6,511,263 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cutler-Malone Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cutler-Malone Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Cutler, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dillon, Jr., Joe
• Application Number:
  US10/041,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20020057949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 385 Days
• Field of Search: 406/42, 406/43, 406/108, 406/109, 406/122, 406/143, 406/145, 406/146, 406/157, 406/164, 406/194, 406/196, 406/2, 406/12, 406/77, 406/101, 239/654
• US Class Current: 406/2
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/04 using blowers
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/1404 Arrangements for supplying particulate material

Abstract

A system for applying particulate materials comprising a supply source of pressurized gas, a chamber with first and second opposed side walls, at least one pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas to the chamber, at least one material hopper for depositing particulate material into the chamber, and at least one pressurized gas exit conduit for transporting particulate material away from the chamber. The wand is flexible and is manually controlled so that the user can control the exact direction in which the particulate material is to be focused. The wand includes a switch which sends a signal to a signal-actuated valve which is coupled to the entrance conduit. Upon receiving the appropriate signal, the signal-actuated valve adjusts so as to alter the flow of particulate material. The apparatus is powered by a motor source which maintains an optimum pressure range inside the entrance conduit through the use of a feedback loop operating between the motor source, the compressor, a pressure valve and a throttle. The apparatus is of the appropriate size so as to be mounted on a vehicle.

Claims

1. A particulate material spreader, comprising:

a reservoir of pressurized gas;

a compressor coupled to the reservoir;

a chamber for receiving pressurized gas and particulate material;

an entrance conduit for delivering pressurized gas from the reservoir to the chamber, said entrance conduit having an end protruding into said chamber;

at least one material hopper, the material hopper having at least one opening located generally above the chamber for having particulate material transported therethrough, said end below said at least one opening of said at least one material hopper; and

an exit conduit for having particulate material transported away from the chamber,

wherein the compressor compresses the pressurized gas located in the reservoir, the resulting compressed pressurized gas being capable of transporting particulate material through the exit conduit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an internal combustion engine coupled to the compressor for providing power to the compressor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a pressure gauge coupled to the reservoir of pressurized gas.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is mounted on a vehicle.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the internal combustion engine is a gasoline engine.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the compressor has an unloader connected to the gasoline engine by a pressure line, such that when the pressure in the reservoir falls below a predetermined pressure, the corresponding reduction in pressure inside the pressure line causes the unloader to open the pressure line which opens a throttle coupled to the engine, causing the engine to increase its power output to the compressor.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the gasoline engine is connected to the compressor by a pressure line such that when the pressure in the reservoir exceeds about 115 pounds per square inch, the corresponding increase in pressure inside the pressure line causes the unloader to close the vacuum inside the pressure line which closes the throttle and causes the engine to reduce its power output to the compressor.

8. Apparatus for applying particulate materials, comprising:

a pressurized gas supply source;

a chamber for receiving pressurized gas and particulate material;

an entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the supply source of pressurized gas, the second end protruding through the first side wall of the chamber at least one material hopper having at least one opening located generally above the chamber for having particulate material transported therethrough, said second end below said at least one opening of said at least one material hopper;

to be located within the chamber;

a signal-activated valve located along the entrance conduit between the first end and the second end for adjusting the flow of pressurized gas through the conduit;

a flexible, manually-held hose having a first end and a second end, the first end being joined to the second side wall of the chamber for having particulate materials exit therethrough, the second end of the hose being located outside the chamber; and

a switch mounted on the hose near the second end of the hose for activating the signal-activated valve,

wherein the activation of the switch sends an electrical signal to the signal-activated valve which proceeds to adjust the gaseous flow through the conduit.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the signal-activated valve can be adjusted to an open position and a closed position.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the signal-activated valve comprises a solenoid valve.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the signal-activated valve can be adjusted to an open position, a closed position, and at least one partially closed position.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a metering assembly between the at least one material hopper and the chamber, the metering assembly including:

an actuator assembly; and

a metering block coupled to the actuator assembly, the metering block having multiple compartments, each of which can be alternately positioned beneath the at least one material hopper.

13. A material spreader, comprising:

presurized a gaseous source;

a chamber with first and second opposed side walls;

an entrance conduit for transporting gaseous material from the gaseous source and having a first end connected to the gaseous source and a second end opening on the chamber, the second end protruding through the first side wall of the chamber to be located within the chamber;

a material hopper having at least one opening located generally above the chamber for having particulate material transported into the chamber, said second end below said at least one opening of said at least one material hopper;

an exit conduit for transporting gaseous material and particulate materials away from the chamber, the exit conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end of the exit conduit opening onto the chamber second side wall for having particulate materials exit therethrough,

a valve coupled to the entrance conduit; and

a switch mounted on the exit conduit, the switch capable of sending an indication to the valve for the purpose of adjusting the flow of gaseous material,

wherein the distance between the second end of the entrance conduit and the second side wall of the chamber is between about one-half and about three-quarters of the distance from the first side wall of the chamber and the second side wall of the chamber.

14. The material spreader of claim 13, wherein the distance between the second end of the entrance conduit and the second side wall of the chamber is about five-eighths of the distance from the first side wall and the second side wall of the chamber.

15. A vehicle-mounted particulate material spreader, comprising:

a supply source of pressurized gas;

a chamber with first and second opposed side walls;

a pressurized gas entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas and having a first end connected to the supply source of pressurized gas and a second end opening on the chamber, the second end protruding through the first side wall of the chamber to be located within the chamber;

at least one material hopper, the material hopper having at least one opening located generally above the chamber, for having particulate material transported into the chamber said second end below said at least one opening of said at least one material hopper; and

a manually-controlled exit conduit for transporting pressurized gas and particulate materials away from the chamber, the exit conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end opening onto the chamber second side wall for having particulate materials exit therethrough,

a signal-activated valve coupled to the entrance conduit; and

a manually-operated switch mounted on the exit conduit, the switch capable of sending a signal to the signal-activated valve for the purpose of adjusting the flow of pressurized gas.

16. The spreader according to claim 15, further comprising:

a compressor coupled to the supply source;

an unloader coupled to the compressor;

a pressure line running from the supply source to the compressor;

an internal-combustion engine for delivering energy to the compressor;

a pressure line running from the internal-combustion engine to the compressor; and

a throttle coupled to the internal-combustion engine;

wherein when the pressure in the supply source falls below about 100 pounds per square inch, the corresponding reduction in pressure inside the pressure line causes the unloader to open the pressure line, resulting in an opening the throttle, causing the engine to increase its power output to the compressor.

17. The spreader according to claim 15, further comprising:

a compressor coupled to the supply source;

an unloader coupled to the compressor;

a pressure line running from the supply source to the compressor;

an internal-combustion engine for delivering energy to the compressor;

a pressure line ruining from the internal-combustion engine to the compressor; and

a throttle coupled to the internal-combustion engine;

wherein when the pressure in the supply source exceeds about 115 pounds per square inch, the increase in pressure inside the pressure line causes the unloader to close the pressure line, resulting in an closing of the throttle which causes the engine to decrease its power output to the compressor.

18. The spreader according to claim 15, wherein the signal-activated valve comprises a solenoid valve.

19. The spreader according to claim 15, further comprising:

a second chamber with first and second opposed side walls;

a second entrance conduit for transporting pressurized gas having a first end and a second end, the first end connected to the supply source of pressurized gas, the second end opening on the second chamber; and

a second exit conduit connected to the second chamber for having particulate materials and pressurized gas exit therethrough.

20. The spreader according to claim 15, further comprising a valve located between the at least one material hopper and the chamber for adjusting the amount of particulate material that is delivered to the chamber.

21. The spreader according to claim 15 further comprising a regulator coupled to the entrance conduit for regulating the flow of pressurized gas to the chamber.

22. The spreader according to claim 15, wherein the distance between the second end of the entrance conduit and the first end of the exit conduit is between about one-half and about three-quarters of the distance from the first side wall to the second side wall of the chamber, such that when particulate material is deposited into the chamber, the particulate material is entrained through the exit conduit by a stream of pressurized gas.

23. The spreader according to claim 22, wherein the distance between the second end of the entrance conduit and the first end of the wand is about five-eighths of the distance from the first side wall to the second side wall of the chamber.